Gordonstoun strengthens its international reach

In an important moment in Gordonstoun’s history, the first Gordonstoun school in China which is expected to open in 2022 has been announced. The location of the first school will be announced soon and will be chosen to enable access to green spaces and the sea both key features of a Gordonstoun education.

This is part of a long- term multi-school agreement with Hampton Group, a specialist in fostering closer bonds between the UK and China.

Gordonstoun has been leading the way in character education since its foundation by our founder Kurt Hahn in 1934 and was the birthplace of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Round Square conference of schools. This agreement cements our commitment to growing further the international reach and impact of our unique educational ethos. Gordonstoun has always been an outward-looking school, welcoming children from all over the world; building understanding and tolerance between people from diverse backgrounds. Expanding our reach through a franchise partnership is therefore a logical next step.

In the Hampton Group, we feel that we have found the right partner to help us introduce the unique Gordonstoun approach to China. Their commitment to character development in education shone through from the first meeting and we have been encouraged by all we have seen and heard from them in the intervening months.

The Gordonstoun schools in China will offer the Chinese academic curriculum within a Gordonstoun approach to character education.

The fees of the schools in China have yet to be finalised but, in keeping with the founding ethos of Gordonstoun, a number of bursaries will be available in order to offer life-changing opportunities to children regardless of their ability to pay. Also, a significant proportion of the income from the Chinese campuses will be used to build a fund that is eventually able to support numerous bursaries here in Moray.

We hope that the new Chinese schools will help to foster the kind of international understanding which Kurt Hahn set out to achieve when he set up the school 85 years ago.